Obtaining a patent on an idea gives you the right to prevent others from manufacturing or importing similar products. Utility patents protect processes, equipment, manufacturable items and compounds or substances, including new as well as improved inventions. If you attempt to save the cost of registered attorney or agent services and adopt a do-it-yourself approach to patent application, you can reduce the costs of the process in several ways that relate to how you file and who you are.

Filing Method

You can avoid an up to $400 "non-electronic filing fee" if you choose to submit your utility patent application on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website through its EFS-Web filing system. The non-electronic filing fee applies to utility patent applications sent through the mail or hand delivered to the USPTO. If you pay all applicable fees at the same time that you submit your patent application, you can avoid a late surcharge of up to $130.

Provisional Patent

To secure 12 months of provisional protection for your idea and establish a priority claim in the event that another individual or company attempts to patent a similar idea, you can file for a provisional utility patent. This form of coverage entitles you to label your product "patent pending" during the year in which it applies. A provisional patent offers you no further protection beyond that one-year window in which to complete the full, formal utility patent application and pay the requisite fees, but it can help you protect your idea while you secure the rest of your funding. The provisional patent comes with a $260 fee plus a $50 processing fee. Some inventors may pay half or only 25 percent of the basic patent fee, depending on their ability to meet certain size and income criteria.

Small Entities and Micro-Entities

If you qualify as a small entity or micro-entity under U.S. Patent and Trademark Office regulations, you pay half or 25 percent of the full utility patent fees, respectively. Small entities consist of individuals, small business and not-for-profit organizations. Micro-entities include small entities that have applied for no more than four previous patents, earn no more than three times the median household income during the year before paying the patent fees and don't assign any interest in the patent to someone with an income above that median threshold.

Seeking Investors

If your idea holds broad appeal and you're willing to give up a percentage of its long-term value in exchange for assistance with the costs of patent application, you may be able to secure financial help from investors. You'll need to obtain a signed non-disclosure agreement from anyone with whom you share your idea, one in which each potential investor agrees not to discuss or share your idea with anyone other than you. Some inventors carry the cost of patent fees themselves and involve outsiders only in the processes of manufacturing and distributing the resulting product, retaining only a fraction of the overall profits -- typically 5 percent -- but avoiding the complexities of production and merchandising.

About the Author

Elizabeth Mott has been a writer since 1983. Mott has extensive experience writing advertising copy for everything from kitchen appliances and financial services to education and tourism. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in English from Indiana State University.